Pep band members rise to challenge at Hiland

Pep band members rise to the challenge at Hiland High School

By CHRISTINE L. PRATTStaff Writer Published: March 27, 2014 4:00 AM

E. HOLMES DISTRICT -- When she became the district band director, Beth Barnes said she'd been warned by many to not even try forming a pep band at Hiland.

The warning became less deterrent and more challenge for Barnes, who was determined to find solutions to overcome barriers even before they were erected.

"They told me that it's a band, and with the kids so involved (in other activities), it's hard to get them to commit to extracurriculars," she said.

Driven by innovation, Barnes created an environment into which students could participate as their schedule permitted, and she opened up participation to include middle school students. That, she said, serves a secondary function of being a "great recruitment tool" for the high school band.

She pushed hard to get the band going because, without a school football team, opportunities are relatively limited for the marching band, and both that and pep band give students a different experience -- playing to a larger crowd and playing music people respond to -- than performing in a concert setting.

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The pep band, which practices in the hour preceding home basketball games, plays as long as enough students show up to fill out the necessary instrumentation. And, while there have been a few games they were unable to meet the quota, on most occasions they've played with an average of 25-30 students.

The biggest need is in the percussion section, which is, luckily, the largest, followed by brass and then woodwinds.

"I have a lot of really dedicated players who have made sure to be there as much as possible," she said, adding members of the pep band are rewarded with free admission to the game.

Because of the great diversity within the band, Barnes said she's had to be very cognizant of her music selections. She even had to write arrangements better suited for intermediate players.

They play popular music and pieces that are designed to get the crowd moving. Among the favorites, she said, are "The Hey Song," "What Does the Fox Say?" "Seven Nation Army" and "Crazy Train."

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The band sits in the student section and the fans -- singing, dancing and clapping along -- have come to enjoy the music and excitement its members bring to the stands, said Barnes, who has been approached by members of the community who have thanked her for making the pep band work.

Eighth-grader Gabe Brown plays trumpet in the pep band and has made it to most of the games. He said he enjoys "being with all my friends who are also in the band."

Brown said he most enjoys playing the Pokemon theme song, selected by Barnes at the request of the students. "When I was younger, I used to play that game a lot."

Junior Chloe Torrence said the pep band "is like family."

"The clarinet section are like my sisters and I like being with them more," she said.

She said she most enjoys playing "What Does the Fox Say?" not only because it was arranged by Barnes, but because "it was the first song we really played that we felt like a band."

Hunter Mast, eighth grade, plays trombone in the band, which he enjoys being part of because it allows him to play beside the high schoolers and "helped me get into a higher level of music."

His favorite pep band piece is "Crazy Train," a Hiland band tradition, that includes a "crazy, hard and quick" trombone part, according to Barnes, who said she appreciates the willingness of Mast and all the younger members to rise to the challenge of the arrangement and the band in general.

Reporter Christine L. Pratt can be reached at 330-674-5676 or cpratt@the-daily-record.com.